Type-writing-machine support.



No. 632,680. Patented Sept. 5, I899.

R. J. FISHER.

TYPE WRITING MACHINE SUPPORT.

(Application filed, Feb. 21, 1898.)

(No Model.) 2 Sheets$h'eet I go e czjjhr; W f r 13 m @AIIQPQB YS. I

Patented Sept. 5, I899.

B. J. FISHER.

TYPE WRITING MACHINE SUPPORT.

(Application filed Feb. 21, 1898.)

2 Sheats-Sheet 2,

(No Model.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT JOSEPH FISHER, OF ATHENS, TENNESSEE, ASSIGNOR TO THE FISHERTYPEWRITER COMPANY, OF TENNESSEE.

TYPE-'WRlTlNG-MACHINE SUPPORT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 632,680, datedSeptember 5, 1899.

Application filed February 21,1898. Serial No. 671,147. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, ROBERT J OSEPH FIsIIEE, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Athens, in the county of HcMinn and State ofTennessee, have invented a new and useful Type-lVriting-"tlachineSupport, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to type-writing machines of that class designed forbookwork, and particularly to a combined machine-support and platen; andthe object in 'view is to provide a simple and efficient construction ofsupport for upholding a book and a machine for maintaining a platen inoperative relation with the book-leaves, the platen being of such aconstruction as to support both of the exposed leaves of a book inposition to receive the impression of the printing characters and thebook-support being of such construction as to receive an open book andsupport the same throughout its extent, whereby it maybe raised todispose the sides of the book respectively in contact with the undersurfaces of the platen leaves or members.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will appear in thefollowing description, and the novel features thereof will beparticularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of atype-writing-machine support constructed in the form of a table andshowing a book arranged in operative position thereon. Fig. 2 is asimilar view showing the manner of arranging the platen leaves ormembers in operative relation with the book-leaves. Fig. 3 is aninverted plan view of the support. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section ofthe same. Fig. 5 is a detail vertical sectional view on the line 5 5 ofFig. 3.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all thefigures of the drawings.

The support embodying my present invention consists of a stationary baseor frame 88, beneath the horizontal top of which is arranged avertically-movable book-support 89, the horizontal top of the base orframe being provided with an opening 90, bounded at its front and rearsides by parallel supportingstrips 91, the interval between these stripsbeing such as to receive a book 92, upheld by the adjustablebook-support 89. These supporting-strips are adapted to maintain thetracks or guides 1 of a type-writing machine (such as that illustratedin'either of my former patents, No. 569,491, dated October 13, 1896;Nos. 569,625, 569,626, and 569,627, dated October 20, 1896; No. 572,535,dated December 8, 1896, and No. 573,868, dated Decem-.

ber 29, 1896) in a horizontal position.

The means whereby the book-support 89 is adjusted vertically to suit thethickness of the book supported thereby include segmentgears 93,connected in pairs by spindles 94,

which are arranged transversely of the tabletop, preferably abovetheplane of the lower edges of the skirting boards 95. Thesesegment-gears mesh with racks 96, depending from the book-support 89,contiguous to its extremities, andsimultaneous rotary motion in oppositedirections is communicated to the spindles of the segment-gears by meansof a worm 97, meshing with a worm-gear 98 on a counter or connectingspindle 94, which extends longitudinally between the spindles 94, and isprovided with bevel-gears 94 to mesh with corresponding gears 94 on saidspindles, the worm beingcarried by a worm-shaft 99, which is mountedtransversely of the tabletop and extends beyond the frontedge thereof toreceive an operating-crank 100. By turning this worm-shaft thebook-support 89 may be raised or lowered to the desired height, and theuse of a worm meshing with awormgear provides for retaining thebook-support at the desired adjustment without the use of auxiliarylocking devices. Hence the operation of the book-support in adapting itto the thickness of a book is simplified and I am enabled to adjust itinstantly to the desired height and change the adjustment as often asmay be required in the operation of the machine without the loss of timewhich would be involved by the manipulation of auxiliary locking device.

Spanning the opening 90 in the supportingframe between the parallelsupporting-strips 91, which in the construction illustrated are fixed orstationary, is a horizontal platen or book -leaf support for maintaining7 bookleaves in contact with the under sides of the tracks 1 to receivethe impression of the printing characters. In the constructionillustrated in the drawings the platen or leaf support is of sectionalconstruction, and comprises platen leaves or members 101, each beingapproximately coextensive with the leaf of a book on the book-support89, and the inner edges of said platen leaves or members being separatedto form a transverse elongated opening or slot 102, through which one ormore book-leaves may be extended upwardly for arrangement in a flatposition upon the upper surface of the platen. Obviously after theextension of the book-leaves and their arrangement in contact with theupper surface of the platen they are held from displacement by theweight of the tracks 1 and of the superposed type-writing machine,which, however, is not illustrated in the present drawings. Furthermore,in the construction illustrated the platen leaves or sections are higherat their outer or remote edges to the base or supporting-frame and areadapted to fit wholly within the opening 90 to occupy positions withtheir upper surfaces flush with the upper surface of the base, and hencewith the upper surfaces of the supporting-strips 91; but it is obviousthat in practice said platen leaves or members may be disposed to restupon the supporting-strips and may be made separate from thesupporting-frame instead of permanently connected therewith, asillustrated.

In operation the platen leaves or members are outwardly foldable to thepositions indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2, when the book 92 may bedisposed upon the vertically-adjustable book-support 89, the latterbeing moved by the manipulation of the crank 100 to bring the uppersurface of the thicker side of the book as close to the plane of theupper surface of the base or supporting-frame as possible withoutinterfering with the subsequent arrangement of the platen leaves ormembers in their normal horizontal positions. One or more leaves of thebook may then be turned up, as shown in Fig. 2, and the platen leaves orsections folded inward to locate said upturned book-leaves in theelongated opening or slot 102 between the contiguous parallel edges ofthe platen leaves or members, and subsequently the book-leaves arefolded outward to the position illustrated in Fig. 1 and the tracks 1are arranged in parallel positions upon either of the book-leaves tohold it in a fiat position suitable for receiving the impression of theprinting characters.

It will be seen that by arranging the segment-gear spindles 94 parallelwith the end edges of the base or supporting-frame and connecting saidspindles for simultaneous rotation by a counter-shaft 94, which islocated at the rear edge of the base or supportingframe, the front ofthe base or supportingframe is left free, whereby when the support isconstructed as a table sufficient space is allowed for the knees of theoperator without necessitating a support of an inconvenient height, andas the means for manipulating the adjustable book-support, andconsisting of the crank 100, is located at the front edge of the base itis obvious that it is within convenient reach of the operator and may beadjusted from time to time, as found necessary, in order to dispose thebook in a proper position with relation to the platen, which when in useis fixed in position, although capable of outward displacement, as abovedescribed, in order to give access to the impression-receivin g objectand facilitate the arrangement of the book-leaves or other objects incontact with the upper surface of the platen.

Various changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details ofconstruction maybe resorted to without departing from the spirit orsacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having described my invention, what I of the platen and having acontinuous bookreceiving surface, whereby an open book may be elevatedthroughout its extent toward the plane of the platen, and means forsecuring the book-support at the desired adjustment, substantially asspecified.

2. A type-writing-machine support having a base, a normally stationaryplaten having leaves or members separated at their adjacent edges toform a book-leaf-receiving slot, a vertically-adj ustable book-supporthaving a continuous book-receiving surface, whereby an open book may beelevated throughout its extent toward the plane of the platen, toarrange its opposite sides in contact with the under surfaces,respectively, of the platen leaves or members, and means for securingthe book-support at the desired adjustment, substantially as specified.

3. A type-writing-machine support having a normally stationary platen, avertically-adjustable support, disposed below the plane of the platenand having a continuous book-receiving surface, whereby an open book maybe elevated throughoutits extent toward the plane of the platen, andoperating mechanism for the book-support, connected with the latter at aplurality of points, substantially as specified.

4:. A type-writing-machine support having a base, a platen havingseparate platen leaves or members hingedly mounted upon the base, tonormally occupy a common plane with their contiguous edges separated, avertically-adj ustable book-support arranged below the plane of theplaten, and means for securing the book-support at the desiredadjustment, substantially as specified.

5. A type-writing-machine support having a base, a platen comprisingseparate platen leaves or members hingedly mounted at their remote edgesupon the base, and normally occupying positions in a common plane withtheir contiguous edges separated,a verticallyadjustable book-supportarranged below the plane of the platen,and means for securing thebook-support at the desired adjustment, substantially as specified.

6. A type-Writing-machine support having a base for supporting a platen,a verticallyadjustable book-support arranged below the plane of theplaten and provided with depending racks, segment-gears meshing,respectively, with said racks and having parallel spindles locatedcontiguous to opposite ends of the supporting-frame, a counter-shaftconnected by gearing with said segment-gear spindles and carrying aWorm-gear, and an operating-worm meshing with said worm-gear and havingits shaft provided with an operating-crank exposed beyond the base formanual actuation, substantially as specified.

7. A type-Writing-machine support having a base, a vertically-adjustable book-support, and operating devices for the book-support, havinggearing including intermeshin g racks and gears connected forsimultaneous movement, and a single operating-shaft provided beyond oneedge of the base With an operating device, and connecting with saidgearing for communicating motion in either direction thereto,substantially as specified.

8. A type-writing-machine support having a base, a vertically-adjustablebook-support, and operating devices for the book-support, having gearingincluding intermeshing racks and gears connected for simultaneousmovement, and a single operating-shaft terminat= ing near one edge ofthe base and provided with a manually-movable operating device, saidshaft having a worm-gear connection with said gearing, whereby thebook-support is automatically held in any of its adjusted positions,substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affiXedmy signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

ROBERT JOSEPH FISHER.

lVitnesses:

JOHN LUTHER EMERSON, JAMES DAVID WVILLIAMS.

